Wretched Town suffered yet another embarrassing FA Cup exit as first-half goals from Jordan Stevens and Robbie Gotts saw League Two Barrow to a 2-0 second-round replay victory at Holker Street. The Blues deserved little more having been woeful in a first half in which Stevens netted on 26 and Gotts nine minutes later. Town huffed and puffed after the break but never looked like getting back into the match.

Interim manager John McGreal made eight changes to the Blues side with only Christian Walton, Kane Vincent-Young and Cameron Burgess remaining from Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Wigan.

Walton continued in goal behind a back four of, from the right, Vincent-Young, Toto Nsiala, Burgess and Matt Penney.

In midfield, Idris El Mizouni and Tom Carroll were in the centre with Scott Fraser on the left and Sone Aluko, who skippered, on the right. Up front, James Norwood started alongside Kayden Jackson.

Among those on the bench are captain Sam Morsy, Conor Chaplin and Janoi Donacien, while Ben Morris was included in the first-team squad for the first time since the Coventry game in March 2020, the final match before that season was suspended due to the pandemic.

Young midfielder Cameron Humphreys was due to be in the squad but was left out as his room-mate has Covid, according to Blues legend Terry Butcher, who was part of the team covering the game live for ITV4

League Two Barrow made two changes with Josh Gordon and Matt Platt coming into the team for Ozzy Zanzala and Mark Ellis, who dropped to the bench.

Prior to kick-off both teams took a knee aside from Aluko and Nsiala, who both raised an arm.

Barrow saw most of the ball in the early stages and on five Gordon got behind Burgess on the right but screwed his shot well wide.

The Bluebirds continued to dominate the ball and in the 12th minute came close to going in front when Patrick Brough crossed from the left after a flowing move from halfway and Gotts shot just over from the edge of the area.

Barrow felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the 19th minute when Burgess sent Gordon flying as he cleared after dallying not realising the Barrow striker was behind him. The Town defender looked to have got something on the ball as well as the player but some referees might have given it.

The Blues had shown very little with the home side controlling the game and in the 26th minute they went in front with their first goal in open play in seven matches.

A corner was played short to Gott, who laid it to Stevens on the edge of the box from where he smashed a shot into the net off El Mizouni. It was all the League Two side deserved with the Blues yet to get going.

Barrow threatened again on the half hour when Gotts shot not too far wide at the near post from a right-sided cross.

The Blues continued to labour and in the 35th minute the home side doubled their lead. Stevens crossed from the left, Brough couldn’t direct it goalwards but it dropped to Gotts, who smashed into the net to make it 2-0.

The scoreline far from flattered the Cumbrians, who had been much the better side with the Blues having shown nothing.

Town finally threatened as the half reached its final minutes, a Fraser free-kick from the right leading to a corner from which Burgess flicked a header well wide, much to his frustration.

The half-time whistle was greeted by cheers from the home side who thoroughly deserved their two-goal lead with the Blues as bad as they’ve been at any point over the last few seasons.

Town had been embarrassingly schooled by League Two’s 19th-place team, who had passed the ball around tidily and created the game’s only chances.

The Blues had struggled to keep hold of the ball, had carved out nothing in front of goal and had looked shaky at the back.

It was little surprise that McGreal made changes at the break with skipper Morsy and Luke Woolfenden taking over from Fraser and Carroll as he moved the team into a 3-5-2 system with Aluko ahead of El Mizouni and Morsy in the centre.

Town threatened within a minute of the restart, Norwood stabbing wide from inside the area.

On 48 sub Woolfenden headed wide after a corner which had been played to the edge of the box had been looped back towards the post.

In the 54th minute Morsy hit a well-struck shot from just outside the box which home keeper Paul Farman saved down to his left and then claimed ahead of Jackson as the striker sought to follow-up, suffering a knock which required treatment as he did so.

Farman, who was in goal for Lincoln when they beat Town in the FA Cup at Sincil Bank in 2017, was eventually OK to carry on.

Barrow created their first opportunities of the second half in the 58th minute, First, Ollie Banks’s shot was blocked then Stevens sent his volley over the bar.

Just after the hour, Norwood chased a long ball down the middle but Farman was quickly off his line to claim in front of the striker.

On 66 Morsy was shown the game’s first yellow card for a late challenge on Banks inside the centre circle. Two minutes later, Norwood was swapped for Joe Pigott after a frustrating evening.

In the 72nd minute Nsiala went down clearly in pain after colliding with Gordon and required treatment for what looked like a twisted knee. The centre-half eventually gingerly made his way to the touchline and was replaced by Donacien, while Chaplin took over from Aluko. On 79, Barrow swapped Stevens for Josh Kay and Connor Brown for Remeao Hutton.

Any momentum the Blues might have built up in the early minutes of the half had well and truly dissipated with the game petering out as a contest given the home’s side’s two-goal lead and the succession of substitutions preventing any flow.

However, in the 80th minute, Vincent-Young sent a low ball across the Bluebirds area but with no one on hand to add a final touch.

Town were seeing a fair bit of the ball but without finding a way through the Barrow XI, who by now were happy to sit on their lead. On 87 Pigott shot into the ground and through to Farman.

Morsy showed his frustration a minute later by dragging a Barrow player to his feet as he was on the ground waiting for treatment and was fortunate not to be shown a second yellow card.

As the match moved into six minutes of injury time, Pigott rose to head a Donacien cross from the right towards goal but Farman was again able to save with little fanfare.

The Blues kept pushing in the final minutes but with little conviction and cheers from the home fans rang around the ground at the final whistle after a famous and deserved cup upset.

Another FA Cup horror show - as was the case with then-non-league Lincoln in 2017 in front of TV cameras - to go with Town’s worst.

After an abject first-half display, the Blues improved after the break but never put Barrow under real pressure and Farman in goal had a quiet evening.

The Bluebirds progress to round three and an away tie at Barnsley, while the Blues will be without a game on Saturday 8th January with their league match with AFC Wimbledon off as the Dons are also in FA Cup action.

Town, led either by McGreal or perhaps a new manager, are next in action on Saturday when Sunderland are at Portman Road when the Blues will have to be very much better if they’re to take anything from the game.

Barrow: Farman, Brown (Hutton 79), Brough, Platt, Gordon (Zanzala 82), White, J Jones, Gotts (Ellis 90), Grayson, Banks (c), Stevens (Kay 79). Unused: Lillis, Taylor, M Jones, Beadling, James.

Town: Walton, Vincent-Young, Nsiala (Donacien 75), Burgess, Penney, Aluko (c) (Chaplin 75), El Mizouni, Carroll (Woolfenden 46), Fraser (Morsy 46), Jackson, Norwood (Pigott 68). Unused: Hladky, Kenlock, Morris. Referee: James Bell (Sheffield). Att: 2,756 (Town: 202).

Photo: Pagepix

Gforce added 22:49 - Dec 15 So pi$$ed off watching that shower of sh#t ,I switched off 10 minutes into the second half and watched part 3 of landscapers instead ( far more entertaining )
4

ChrisR added 22:49 - Dec 15 And please not Anthony Barry , cant cope with yet another scouser !
-3

Bert added 22:49 - Dec 15 Staying the night before the Charlton game, a plane to Barrow. A mollycoddled bunch of players who don't deserve a B&B in Blackpool. Morsy is probably the poorest captain we have ever had. He has the air of a man who couldn't care less about Ipswich. How Cook could rate him as the messiah is a joke.
9

SingBlue added 22:50 - Dec 15 This club is on it's final breath. As a team we are absolutely appalling, the one or two goodish players we have bring that up to ‘absolutely appalling' otherwise we would be worse. I do not care about any of them, I don't want to see any social media about them. I don't want to hear any talk from them. I hope they all go in January, all of them. The new manager has about 5 games to turn this around or we'll be on his back (and that includes me). In reading this back I realise I need a break from ITFC because they it's all too upsetting.

12

fizzyblue added 22:50 - Dec 15 Firstly ntoms97 that post is worthy of a bollinger award. Brilliant!!! Secondly why am earth did the board stick with cook and allow him to spend their millions if he wasn't their first choice? What an absolute waste of time and money. Didn't watch the match but I now feel that the club is on a dangerous tipping point beyond the point of no return. It seems the club is loosing its identity and I fear their will be a distinct gap between both fans and the local committee of the right manager isn't appointed. Maybe I'm wrong in saying this but someone With a link to the club that actually genuinely care and understands what the club means to us fans. Perhaps not Mc greal after this result and the last. Such a shame as all Seemed so bright back in the summer….

2

OldClactonBlue added 22:54 - Dec 15 What a total embarrassment. I can hardly believe it.
6

anditractor added 22:55 - Dec 15 Utter, utter embarrasing and disgraceful performance. Not a single player should be proud to wear the shirt. Can we get any lower. All players should be ashamed, what is happening to this once great club. Nearly 60 years of supporting this club and never been so low, can it get any worse !!
4

markchips added 22:56 - Dec 15 I just wonder what grounds you have to have to dismiss a professional football player. If tonight's display was not as clear an example of justification I am unsure what further proof is needed. Terminate their contracts. But Ashton is all mouth and no trousers so they are safe in the knowledge they can hide for the next four months and still get paid .
3

Bluearmy_81 added 22:57 - Dec 15 Thanks Kernewek someone gets it. Yep we stood by and watched. Put the miles in but didn't have the balls to stand up for our club, just believed endless spin and platitudes. Hence my comment about people being gullible. You can add naive to that. I tried to rouse supporters to put pressure on Evans but was shouted down for it. Shameful
5

BurleysGloryDays added 23:06 - Dec 15 My God
0

richardpaul added 23:08 - Dec 15 Apart from all the negatives one shining light in all of this is the FANTASTIC travelling army of ITFC fans The expense of following the Town all over the the country is substantial and to witness a display like tonight must really test their resolve but come the next away game there they are As an armchair supporter of some 70 years I take my hat off to them and they deserve recognition from all the posters on this site

3

dubblue added 23:08 - Dec 15 Só who would want to manage these muppets?
4

bluesince76 added 23:09 - Dec 15 Next manager please needs to be a good one to sort this club out why is Jackson still here.
4

DaGremloid added 23:10 - Dec 15 Saxonblue74 - I agree with you but I'm talking about the season as a whole, the hope we were given that all the players we signed were fantastic. They're not - not for Cook or now post-Cook.
4

BurleysGloryDays added 23:14 - Dec 15 Sorry but Board have to take responsibility. Awful decision to get rid of Cook and it's come back to hit them, and all of us, hard. Some parade this weekend. What an utter, utter disaster. MIserable.
4

EssexTractor added 23:21 - Dec 15 Due to Covid, Lambert ( before him Hurst MICK, Roy , and Evans) we were all in gloomy land so when the US dollar came along with our apparently wise and sensible Mr O Leary addressing us and thenMr Ashton pulling all the strings and cleverly manipulating “excellent players”to join us and spitting on the hands Of the (laughing) sellers) The Magic19 were born and we were Euphoric …who can blame us …!! We so,wanted changes… But did Ashton, Cook have a misfiring Crystal ball, …what evidence that 19 would gell and storm though to the championship ,( to be fair Cookie did reiterate “ we are still gelling”, until he dissolved) It is reported they were all Cooks choices , maybe some were but was it not the ego of Mr Ashton that was seen to rise as he snapped the signatures …working 24=hours to bring them into Portman Road, Now truly how many of the 19 were names on supporters own lists as last season faded away ,. Personally the only one I knew of was Wes Burns for his Fleetwood Performance against us …but Penny, Burgess, Coulson , Harper , Evans l, Edwards Piggot, Bonne, Edmundson and Walton were “unknown stars” ..and who truly knew of our “ skip”,Sam Morsy… For me .. those successful- Edmundson has earned his wages, Bonne, but worry that he might have had his purple patch ..surely if he was really that good over period of time why would he be loaned out , Walton some times excellent shot saver , but distribution woeful..and Burns.. The rest inconsistent, lacking pace , passing ability dreadful …poor in the tackle , second to the ball These are words underlined by the most embarrassing performance that is in any of our memory banks We were great Now we are not We have become history So so sad The look on the face of Kieron , the words of Terry ..they told it all . We have been hooked into Saturday and Sunderland, the biggest crowd in years ,,but with larger potential,problems worrying all and sundry is our only temporary salvation, hearing that within 48 hours Boris will postpone all outdoor activities.! If not then Mr Ashton must convince many that he is not a showman , but that he can evidence the true experience that he boasts of…by making his the most important footballing decision ..not buying 19 mercenaries but appointing the manager to haul us out of the debris… ” Mr Dollar” is not here to be laughed at , that's for sure ..and if that backing disappears what then happens to a once beautiful club with wonderful footballers.?

3

62WasBest added 23:31 - Dec 15 Even a team without creative talent (such as this one) should be able to prevent the opposition scoring, even if they haven't the guile to win. We can't even do that when facing a team 31 places below us. I wish someone would take these players to one side, tell them to forget everything they ever thought they knew about football and then teach them what the game is really all about, because what we witnessed tonight even clueless wouldn't bean adequate enough word to use. Even abject and dismal would be too mild.

3

blueboy1981 added 23:34 - Dec 15 Quite simply - another clear out is the only answer. This was far, far, beyond just an embarrassing defeat. This collection of excuses as players, need to hang their heads in total shame. An insult to the Club, Shirt, and Supporters !!!
7

leftie1972 added 23:35 - Dec 15 What a shower of %+#£e, embarrassing, lack of desire and commitment.
4

Lathers added 23:51 - Dec 15 19 in. F8ck me, we need another clear out.
3

Henrietta_R_Hippo added 00:14 - Dec 16 Hmmm utter humiliating & didn't-bother turning-up exist in all the season's cup tournaments .... Hmmm now where have we heard & seen that before at these latitudes ??? lol First is was Newport's juggernaut B, repeat B!, team, then Arsenal's pimple-stricken adolescents, and then except for a missed penalty could have been knocked out by severely 4th tier struggling Oldham AWESOME Athletic in the previous round of the once extremely prestige filled FA version of the cups ...only to be twice embarrassed by recently non-league Barrow AWESOME Association f.c. in the next! Oh and don't get me started on all the league games where the paying and/or travelling fans rightly should have been reimbursed TOO! I've said it many times during The Evans Era and I'll say it again: What a unmatched DEJA VU -like waste of transfer fees & wages!!!!!!!!!! Only in Town! Alas well handpicked Pep Cookie! As apart from the very very odd piece of individual brilliance or 10 minutes spell here & there, your extremely hyped "Championship Caliber" LOT simply just isn't significantly better (read: Less lethargic & unit dysfunctional!) ....well than any of your most recent clueless predecessors and/or Pauls, and their icky ragtag squads! No much sense in pointing fingers at the interim McGreal imho (although yes you can argue that seemingly nor him -- but who if any? -- can properly motivated these abject so called "professionals") cause i repeat this here is fundamentally Pep Cookies BROMANTiC handpicked lot!!! Aye factually with a very selective few leftovers incl. a couple of until recently widely deemed personas non gratta sprinkled on top! ....but the point being that apart from the on-loan goalie plus maybe one or two others they REST of them should all be seriously ashamed of themselves, again! So much so that I like to envision that even the fabulous fair minded JUDGE JUDY could be pronto called in to rule, lol, and as such only really make her stopwatch-like Reality Tv courtroom verdict something very akin to this: "Guilty! Guilty of collectively *misrepresenting* The Town Shirt!" "60 days hard labor. ..to the lot of you ...and all signed contracts henceforth null & void!" "Amen!"

4

RobsonWark added 00:16 - Dec 16 KernewekBlue added 22:44 - Dec 15 "Kayden Jackson? What has he EVER done for this team?? I remember a couple of seasons back, lip-reading one of the Bristol City defender's comments to him on the pitch, when he was once again perfectly executing his headless-chicken-routine, running around aimlessly without contributing to a performance, as usual... "F'ing amateur" Those two words sum him up very neatly. Why is he anywhere near a football pitch wearing our shirt? Why? He brings nothing to the party!! I remember when he got sent off after 10 minutes against Sunderland for a really bad ridiculous tackle he made in a game for Paul Lambert that cost us the game and was dropped to the U23s. His response was "I'm a professional footballer" He needs to GO!!

2

Lathers added 00:22 - Dec 16 Henrietta…. Pure genius. I want to cry but I prefer to laugh. Thank you.
0

1Warky added 00:27 - Dec 16 How low can this team go? Their motivation tonight was fourfold, playing for the badge (obviously nothing there), playing in front of the nation on TV (still nothing) and in front of their new manager out there somewhere (nothing) and even personal pride in themselves as supposed professionals and their families etc. (Still nothing). What does that say about the character of these players. They didn't even try. Even Barrow had muted celebrations afterwards as they knew themselves they had only beaten a poor team. Forget this season. We need a new demolition man for this lot. Disgraceful to be taking our money for this rubbish. I'm 40 years a Town fan - shocking.

1

ipswichone added 00:35 - Dec 16 Are defence was cut open many times in first half,with balls down centre.we need to go back to basics.barrow was very good,although with our team,should have beaten them.I was happy to plod along with mgreal,but worried now that if we don't get manager,could be in relegation dogfight.what will happen Saturday I don't know,but looks like we might get hammered
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls